Instrument



July 21, 1931. R. H. OWENS K 1,815,161

INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 14, 1928 *3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 1 I i7- 21 l 4 1 1h II M H l! H m 1 *7 a, i W l l v mu nn Ilg E.

A TTORNE Y) July 21, 1931. R. H. OWENS 1,815,161

INSTRUMENT Fi led Nov. 14, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N V EN I OR A TTO/(NE Y5 R H OWENS July 21, 1931.

INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR VZLWMM M A TTORNE Y Patented July 21, 1931 STATES PATENT errce R'UBERT H. OJVENS, F CONNEBSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR- TO THE P.

H. & F. 11L

BOOTS COMPANY, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA INSTRUMENT Application filed. November 14, 1928. Serial No. 319,331.

This invention relates to instruments for recording or indicating various measurements, and particularly to instruments adapted for use with fluid-handling apparatus.

@ne object of the invention is the provision of an instrument of this character having a casing and drive mechanism therein so arranged that the casing may be attached to a similar casing of another instrument or to a meter. as desired, with the drive mechanism operably connected to an operating part of the drive mechanism of the other instrument or of the meter. I

Another object is the provision of an instrument having a casing containing speedreducing mechanism with a driving or driven coupling member for the speed-reducing mechanism. at opposite ends of the casing, the opposite ends of the casing and the coupling members being arranged so that the instrument may be connected in driving or driven relationship with a similar instrument.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following de- 25 scription and from the accompanying drawings in \vhich Fla. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an instrument embodying the present invention, mounted on a fluid-handling apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a fluid-handling apparatus provided with instruments embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a plurality of instruments mounted in place in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 4.- is a section on the line 1-4i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an instrument showing a pen controlled from the meter shafts; and

6 is a front elevation of the instrument shown in Fig. 5. V

This invention has reference to measuring instruments for recording or indicating various measurements, but as herein shown and described the instruments are v of the type adapted to be used in conjunction with fluidhandling apparatus such as a gas meter of the widely-known Roots blower type, although of course 1 he invention is not thus necessarily limited in scope. I

In the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various views, 10 indicates the housing of a fluid-handling apparatus embodying rotary lobed impeller means 11 mounted on the rotor shafts 13. The housing 10, through which the gases or other fluids to be measured or handled flows, is generally of elliptical. crosssection as shown, having opposite inlet and outlet openings adapted for connection in any suitable manner to fluid-carrying pipes. It will be apparent that the number of revolutions of the rotary metering means 11 is generally proportional to the amount of fluid passing through the meter since the latter is of the positive displacement type. However, it is often desired to obtain indications or permanent records of various fluid factors such as temperature, pressure, time. etc. as well as volume to give accurate readings of the fluid conditions of the meter. And it is with particular reference to instruments of this character that this invention is described although obviously the invention is not thus necessarily limited in scope.

The meter housing 10 adjacent an end of a rotor shaft 13 is provided with an attachment plate 15 which substantially encloses the end of the rotor shaft. Preferably both ends of each of the rotor shafts are constructed in a similar manner so that instruments or power drives or take-offs may be connected to any of the rotor shaft ends as desired. Each attachment plate is provided with an opening 16 in alignment with the rotor shaft to provide access to the end of the rotor shaft. which is provided with a coupling member 17 having tongue 18 of noncircul'ar form through which power may be supplied from the rotor shaft.

Mounted on the attachment plate 15 by means of suitable fastening bolts 20 is a casing 21. To this casing is fixed a bracket 22 which supports suitable measuring apparatus as indicated at 28. This measuring apparatus embodies a member such as a chart or a pen, pointer, or the like, which is movable in accordance with the revolutions of the pressure, temperature, time or other 0 )erat-' ed membtis so that suitable measurements 7 may be made of fluid conditions of the meter.

The casing 21 is pro ided with opposite attaching sides and 31 of complementary form or construction. That is, the side 31 is similar to the side of the attaching plate 15 and the side 30 is adaoted to be fit the side of the attachment plate 15. This provides a construction which enables a similar instrument, or an instrument having: casing similar to the casing 21 to be attached to the side 31 so that both instruments may be connected together and driven from the same rotor shaft of the meter.

On the side 30 of the'casing 21 is a wall 34 having a small opening 35 preferably centrally arranged on this side of the casing. Through the opening 35 extends a shaft 36, which projects somewhat beyond the-attaching side 30 of the casing and carries a cou pling member 3? adapted to be coupled to the tongue 18 of the coupling member 17 on the rotor shaft. The coupling members 37 and 17 are of complementary construction so that one is placed in driring relationship with the other when the casing is mounted in position on the attachment plate 15. The shaft 36 extends towards the wall 39 on the side 31 of the casing and carries coupling member 40 adjacent an opening 41 in this 'wall 39 so that the coupling member 40 is accessible from the exterior of thecasing through this opening 41. The coupling member 40 is of a construction similar to that of the rotor coupling 17, and is complementar in construction to the coupling member 37 on the opposite end of the shaft 36. Thus the coupling member 40 may be placed in driving relationship with a coupling member similar to the coupling 37 of another casing ivhich may be attached to the attaching side 31 of the casing, as where more than one instrument is to be driven from the same ro tor shaft end of tie'meter. The shaft 36 is rotatably supported in a bracket within the casin as well as by the wall 34. and

the shaft diameter, where it extends through the wall 54 is quite small to reduce friction effect. Suitable packing material 33 is provided adjacent the opening in the wall 34 through which the shaft 36 extends to prevent leakage or loss of pressure through this wall.

The shaft 36 carries a worm 45 which engages a worm-wheel 46 on a spindle 47 which is suitably journaled at 48 in plates 50 fixed to the bracket 32. The spindle 47 carries a worm 52 which engages a worm-wheel 53 on a spindle 54 extending as shown parallel to the shaft 36 and spaced above it, this spindle 54 being mounted at its opposite ends in the walls 34 and 39 of the casing 21. On the spindle 54 is a worm 60 which engages a wormwheel 61 on aspindle 62 suitably journa-led in the plates 50 as indicated at 63. This spindle 62 is thus driven at a speed which is proportional to the speed of revolution of the rotor shaft but at a greatly decreased speed due to the provisions of the speed-reducing mechanism just described. Spindle 62 extends upwardly through the top wall of the casing 21 and carries adjacent its upper end a pinion 66. Where the spindle 63 extends through the wall 65 of the casing the latter is provided with a packing gland 67 packed with suitable material to prevent leakage or loss of pressure at this point. The spindle 62 at its upper end is quite small in diameter adjacent the point where the packing material is provided so that friction at this point is a minimum, and as the spindle 62 rotates very slowly itwill be obvious that the frictional effect exerted by the packing has practically no effect on the revolution of the meter rotors.

The pinion 66 on the upper end of the spindle 62 Fig. 1, turns pinion 70 on the lower end of the shaft 28, which is arranged in the bracket 22 in parallel relationship with the spindle 62. The bracket 22 in which the shaft 28 is carried is detachably fastened by means of suitable bolts 72 to the upper side of the instrument casing 21, and when in place on the instrument casing it will be apparent that the pinions 66 and 70 are in mesh, the arrangement however being such that the bracket 22 may be easily withdrawn away from the casing 21, the pinion 70 being of course removed with the bracket while the pinion 66 remains at the upper side of the instrument casing. The bracket 22'may thus be conveniently re placed by brackets containing other transmission shafting and gearing for driving other instruments.

lVhere it is desired that a single instrument be mounted at the end of one of the rotor shafts, as shown in Fig. l, a cover plate 73 is placed on the attaching side 31 of the casing 21 to close this end of the casing. The opposite end of the casing as previously mentioned is practically sealed pressure tight by the packing provided around the shaft 36 in the wall 34 of the casing. However, if any leakage or loss of pressure obtains along the shaft 36 into the interior of the casing 21 the loss of this pressure from the casing is pre vented effectively by the presence ofthecover an upright operatingshatt 87 similar to the a packingifor,thegspiindle Hshatt 28, and similarly provided with driv-,-;

plate 73 and. bv the 62 in the upper wall 65 of the casing. l-Iow-iing means at its lower end. This shaft inever, where other instruments having casstead of (operating the chart is'adapted to ings similar in constructionto-thecasingQl operate the. volume :or. indicatingpen 88 and having coupling members and gear-re,,--which is pivotally connected at 90011 a suitducing mechanism similar ,tothoseprovidedable stud in;theinstrument. The upperend for the casing 21, the cover plate 73; is reof thezvolumepen is. rigid with an arm 91 moved to permit lIll-Gl connection of;tl1e;att-.- taching side of such other easing directly-on the attaching side 31. The casings being simr Shaft :95 ;is rotatably mounted in-suitable ilar, it will. be apparent that the. speed-reducbearings 96 and is provided with a rigid arm ing mechanism in the casingattached toms-1 97 carrying at its rear end a suitablerollen operates on- ;a cam 99,.fixed to the-upper end ofthe shaft-.;.- .87. This cam is providedv with an--upper wavy surface: so that as shaft STis slowly.

ing 21- will be operably driven; through the or other SlDlllZtlFgClGViCG 98 which shaft 36. and thus the casing 2l and the mechanism it encloses providesia unitary "e0nstruc tion towhich instruments ofVarious-charao ters may be attached and: to which orfrom rotateehat aispeed. proportionate to the speed which drivingpower may be supplied For ot rotation of the-rotormembers of tl1e me-.

example, the casing 21 may have attached to; ter. arms S-Tandfi willbe oscillated about the \vhichisipivoted at-.92 to an arm 93 connected. at its lower end toiadever arm 94 on shaft 95.- 7

it a bracket supporting a combined pressure, axis of the :Sllftfi; 95 causing a peri0dical-0s-..

temperature and volume IIG 'Cli g pp m-t=qoillation:ofthe, volume pen 88 about its axis tus, the indicating needles or pointers Oi 90. The chartin the meantimeis revolv-ed byn which-are movedmin accordance with these means of-siiitabl l k kloQ 1 1 1;

factors of the fluid handled by the meter and a li Shown i Fi 6 t 101 f @011. a second casing similar to the casing-Zhmay support a demand recorder, for example,-

the meter in. stated time intervals; Or as" shown in F 1g.

gstant amplitude isproduced-onl the chart, the: HUIDbQKMOfWEI VQS in thelinebeing anzindicawhich indicatesvthe volume passing through of'ltllefialllQ unt of fl id passing th u h the meter ini any given time as; shown on. the- 3 1111 g mt mechanlsm. chart. This instrument may also be provided desig ated g n l y 7 m y P VE with other recording pens or the like which,

plate 73.- This integrating lRQChElIIl Q move in accordance with temperature and bOCllGS 21 C2186v 77 .llaYlDg an fittilClllng-Sld;78 -pye5supe thephart. having index references Similar in COHStrllc On t e tta ng-s e for such pens where they are used these addi-:

30 0f thegcasi-ng Tl1 C1356 fiOIlIfilHS- {191151113 115 ar an d. to perate on .a

cated generally 7,9;whichis operatedfrom the f bl jopemtes back and forth on the shaft 80 theend of which carr1es-;a-coupl1ng-. member 81 which engages the couphng men-r bGlTQ Of the shaft 36 in casing 2-1. Integratbeen hown-nor deggribed in detail,

ing countersiare p ov d ill the It will be apparentthat intaccordance-with, WW of an this invention measuringinstrumentsof d1f-,

on the end of the case 7 '7. The

attaching Side 78 theme @flthe inteferent character; and adapted for use with gffitlll fi' ll'lstl lllii lgllt similaruin" Shape to t'he lneters of different izes'may be pro attaching SideBO-ot' casingQL permitsthe atfilchmeflt Of this. Case Wdifectlfl $91619 -the rotor? shafts fluid-line pressure, fluid peripheral portion; As these additional pens i are of wellknownyconstruction they have not vided, as for measuring the revolutions 0t 10-01 suitable speed-reducing mechanism indicentral part oftheiehartwhile the volume pen tilchmgnt' Plate 0f the mgtel? s W as o temperature, differential pressures, and time v the outer Side Of a a 21 w and that various instruments may be interas shown 111 F 52- 2 one of the g j l changeably connected to the attachment plate may e provided with acase 7! contaln ng o'f-the meter or to another instrument or insuitable integrating YI IQCITQIllSDJwil l the case t m th th ,b k p m 82, while the otherrotol Shaft Carries mgrely casings and their contained speed-reducing gfl h o er plat :9 W c pp mechanism may be standardized sothat when 1 used onaneters of different sizes and capa .rcities itis merely necessary to employ, c0m lnQIlt n Which the V01111119 P is l putationconstantsin-connection with theinby the meter. this in tr men ing'adap e dications or records, dependentupon the size to be substituted; for the instrumentaappa f the. meter with which an instrument is ratus 23 shownin Fig. 1..- The instrument ed. c.

84 showngin '5 and 6 comprisesa bracket. 85, the lower pOl'lllOl'l Of which-is formedlike 'sgpjbed constitute prg'fgryed .e nbedi nents of the bracket 22- of-the apparatns'23.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a form of instru- 'While the forms of appar-at-us'herein de-' the low r-p n 0' t bracket 22 f ppawthe invention, .it. is to be; understood that ratus 28 so that it may be attached to=the the invention, isnot limited to these precisetop of the main casing 21., and driven there-reforms of apparatus, and'that changes may be from.

The instrument 84 is provided with made therein without departingtrom thescope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring instrument adapted to be fixed to a fluid-handling apparatus, comprising a casing having opposite attaching sides of complementary construction so that it may be attached to and support a similar casing, measuring apparatus mounted on said casing, mechanism in said casing for driving said apparatus, said mechanism having a coupling member accessible from the exterior of one of said casing sides and having a coupling member accessible from the exterior of the other of said casing sides, said coupling members being of substantially complementary form so that said mechanism may drive or be driven by an instrument having similar casing sides and coupling members.

2. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having opposite attaching sides of complementary construction, a bracket detachably connected to said casing, measuring apparatus on said bracket, mechanism in said casing for driving said app aratus,said mechanism havinga driving coupling member accessible from the exterior of one of said casing sides and having a driven coupling member accessible from the the exterior of the other of said casing sides, said coupling members being of substantially complementary form.

8. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having opposite attaching sides of substantially complementary construction, a shaft in said casing extending between said attaching sides, a coupling member on each end of said shaft, said coupling members being of complementary form, measuring apparatus fixed to said casing, and speedreducing mechanism in said casing for operably interconnecting said shaft and said measuring apparatus.

4. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing havingopposite attaching sides of substantially complementary construction, a shaft extending through said casing from one side to the other, a coupling member adj acent each end of said shaft, said coupling members being of complementary form, a driven slow-speed shaft of small diameter extending through a wall of said casing, packing between said slow-speed shaft and said wall, speed-reducing mechanism in said casing between said first-named shaft and said slow-speed shaft, and an instrument bracket detachably supported on said casing adjacent said wall and having in strument-op crating mechanism op erably connected to said slow-speed shaft.

5. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having attaching sides provided with openings substantially centrally thereof, a shaft in said casing extending between said openings, coupling members of complementary construction on the ends of said shaft and arranged with relation to the sides of said casing to be placed in driving relationship with similar shafts of similar casings, measuring apparatus supported on said casin and speed-reducing mechanism between said shaft and said measuring apparatus.

6. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having opposite attaching sides arranged for attachment to a similar casing, a shaft extending through said casing, a coupling member at one end of said shaft, means for driving a similar coupling member from the other end of said shaft, speed-reducing mechanism in said casing including a driven slow-speed shaft, a bracket detachably connected to said casing, said bracket having driven mechanism operably connected to said slow-speed shaft, and measuring apparatus mounted on said brackat and having a member adapted to be operated proportionally to the movements of said first-named shaft, and means operably connecting said member to the driven mechanism in said bracket.

7. In combination, a fluid meter having a housing and a rotor shaft provided with a coupling member at one end thereof, and a measuring instrument comprising a casing having opposite attaching sides of complementary construction, one of said sides being connected to the meter housing adj accnt the end of said shaft, measuring apparatus mounted on said casing, mechanism in said casing for driving said apparatus, said mechanism including a driving coupling member extending through one of said attaching sides in the casing and adapted to be engaged with. the coupling member on said rotor shaft, and means in said casing operating at the same speed as said driving coupling member and having a construction similar to that of the coupling member on said rotor shaft.

8. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having opposite sides of complementary form so that the casing may be attached to and supported from a similar casing and so that the casing may have a similar casing attached to and supported thereby, measuring apparatus supported by said casing, and mechanism in said casing for driving said apparatus, said mechanism having a coupling member accessible from the exterior of one of said casing sides.

9. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having opposite sides of complementary construction that one side may be attached to and support a similar casing and the other side may be attached to and supported by a similar casing, measuring apparatus supported by said casing, and mechanism in said casing for driving said apparatus and having a coupling member operably connected to said mechanism and accessible from one side of the casing, and having a second coupling member of complementary construction and accessible from the other side of the casing.

10. A measuring instrument of the class described comprising a casing having opposite sides of complementary construction that one side may be attached toand support a similar casing and the other side may be attached to and supported by a similar casing, measuring apparatus supported by said casing, and mechanism in said casing for driving said apparatus, said mechanism including a. shaft extending from one side to the other of said casing and having a coupling member projecting from one side and a complementary coupling member Within the other side.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

ROBERT H. OWENS. 

